Gary Lawless: Alex Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg

Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that Alex Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg, and will not sign a contract extension this summer. Lawless noted that Burmistrov, an RFA this summer, “wished to be traded at the deadline” and has “no intention of re-signing with the Jets.” Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was rumored to attempt to trade the young forward, and “the names Jakob Silfverberg, Drew Stafford and Kyle Okposo have all been attached to Burmistrov trade rumours.”

Burmistrov, a former top-ten pick, has 23 goals and 58 points in his 194 game NHL career. This includes an awful 4-6-10 line from this season and a spot on the bench for the final four games as a healthy scratch. There is a noted rift between Burmistrov and head coach Claude Noel, which is likely the main cause for Burmistrov’s desire to leave Winnipeg.

Despite the low point totals, Burmistrov still commands a decent amount on the trade market. He is cost controlled, and he has the potential to be a great top-six forward. His metrics (.043 Corsi Rel QoC, 6.5 RCorsi, 52% OZone start) aren’t anything special, but they aren’t bad either. At just 21 years old, the sky appears to be the limit for the young Russian. He has the hard part –competency in his own zone– at a manageable level. Offense will come eventually.

The problem with Burmi is the cost. If names like Silvferberg, Stafford, and Okposo are being thrown out there, then the Rangers equivalent is Chris Kreider. Kreider himself is relatively unproven –and significantly worse in his own end– like Burmistrov, but that kind of deal is a bit of a sideways deal. Plus, it makes little sense for the Rangers to give up a kid who is still cost controlled for another season for a kid –who again is unproven offensively– who is up for a raise this offseason.

A deal without Kreider would like involve JT Miller, another kid who the organization has deemed untouchable in other trades. It’s highly unlikely either gets dealt, especially when the organization is in win-now mode (thus trading a kid would be for a piece for a Cup run, not a sideways move). Winnipeg had been rumored to be looking to deal Evander Kane at one point, so let’s take this one with a grain of salt.

If what you say is rumored to be true, I’d do whatever it takes to get Kane here. He has good hands, plays reasonable defense, and in no way will he let anyone push him around. He beat the crap out of Cooke, and that dirty SOB won’t go anywhere near Kane in fear of getting his faces mashed with a good right!!

THe Rangers may not be that deep and could use a step up in quality players, but calling out players who “stink” is not a motivating factor that works. May not be able to get 6 new faces by next year, but a new attitude and a power-play coach would be a step in the right direction.